Multi-scale carbon micro/nanofibers-based adsorbents for protein immobilization

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Protein immobilization is crucial for biosensors and biocatalysis.
• Developing efficient and versatile supports for protein adsorption remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a multi-scale web of activated carbon microfibers (ACFs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs).
• To evaluate the adsorption capacity of the synthesized material for immobilizing different proteins: bovine serum albumin (BSA), glucose oxidase (GOx), and YqeH.

Main Methods:

• ACFs and CNFs were synthesized using chemical vapor deposition with Ni nanoparticles as catalyst.
• CNFs underwent ultra-sonication in acidic medium to remove Ni nanoparticles and create active sites.
• Protein adsorption capacities were quantified using UV-vis spectroscopy.
• Material characterization included SEM, FTIR, BET surface area, and pore-size distribution analysis.

Main Results:

• The synthesized ACFs/CNFs exhibited high adsorption capacities: 191 mg/g for BSA, 39 mg/g for GOx, and 70 mg/g for YqeH.
• The multi-scale web structure of carbon micro-nanofibers proved effective for protein immobilization.
• Characterization confirmed the successful synthesis and structural properties of the adsorbent material.

Conclusions:

• The novel ACF/CNF composite material is an efficient adsorbent for immobilizing diverse protein molecules.
• This material shows promise for applications in biosensing, enzyme immobilization, and other biotechnological fields.